Category Archives: Gardening Tips

Protected Native Plant List

Federated Garden Clubs of New York State Policy- March, 2004

Plants named on the New York State list, “Protected Native Plants” cannot be exhibited in competitive classes, except in Special Exhibits Division as an Educational Exhibit. Such plants must have been acquired in a lawful manner, and may be cut specimens and/or container plants.

Commercially developed hybrids or cultivars (not natural varieties) of plants on the NY list are permitted in competitive classes, but only when the distinguishing feature is evident (April, 1992).

* RARE and not to be confused with Oriental Bittersweet (Calestrus orbiculatus) which is common on Long Island. No VARIETY may be used in a Flower Show.
**Native Ferns cannot be exhibited in any Division of a Flower Show, except in the Special Exhibits Division, as an Educational Exhibit. Such plants must have been acquired in a lawful manner.

Some thoughts about your September Garden

Keep weeding or you will have to deal with their children next season!

Keep deadheading all perennials and annuals, it will extend their bloom. Some annuals, especially Verbena will go almost vegetative unless dead headed.

Now is the time you wish you had either staked your fall bloomers or even better, trimmed them back in June so you would have fuller, stronger and plants with more buds now. Think Asters.

Plant pansies for a wonderful fall/winter garden show, they will emerge in the spring with a wonderful second show as a great accompaniment to your spring bulbs.

Cut back and divide your Daylilies now. If you soak the large clumps in a bucket of water, the water will move the dirt away and they can then be easily pulled apart by hand. Replant them, give a healthy handful of Hollytone and they double flower production next season.

Fall is the perfect time of year to divide your never been divided in 3-5 year old perennials. Divide your fall bloomers in Spring.

Leaf mold applied to your perennials is a wonderful nourisher. Ounce for ounce, leaves are richer in minerals that any other plant material and left alone will become leaf mold in 2-3 years. Shredded leaves, kept moist and turned every week will produce leaf mold in 3 weeks—–how happy will your plants be!

FUN TO DO:

Dried tomatoes are expensive. Do them yourself! 15 lbs of fresh tomatoes=1 lb of dried. Cut fully ripe Roma/plum tomatoes into halves, place on racks and set in a 200 degree oven with the door ajar to promote circulation. They will be dry in 10-12 hours and can be stored at room temperature covered with olive oil.